For Steve Dukkony, an 87-year-old resident of La Posada (a premier senior living community in Palm Beach Gardens), being a professional military officer and solider was a way of life. While at Texas Western College in El Paso, he enrolled in the ROTC program and became the cadet colonel, and upon graduation he entered into the Army as a second lieutenant at Fort Bliss Texas. Dukkony was a combat arms officer whose leadership skills propelled him to leadership positions in the Air Defense Artillery Branch, Field Artillery Branch and the Infantry Branch. His first duty station was with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea in 1954. Ten years later, he served the first of two tours in Vietnam. His career was somewhat unusual, as his training as an airborne ranger led to several infantry-type assignments, including an assignment with the U.S. Army Special Forces. Toward the end of his service, he fulfilled public affairs assignments in Germany, the Pentagon and the Military District of Washington. Throughout his service, he aimed to live up to the standards of what a professional solider should be. As Memorial Day approaches, Dukkony reflects on the many positions he held during his time in the Army and the many brave men and women who served alongside him.

“Most military careers did not follow my pattern. I received various assignments and usually ended up in command of whatever unit I was assigned to. I found it both challenging and interesting,” said Dukkony. “When I began my service, I was assigned to the field artillery for my first year in Korea. Even though the truce had been signed, the units remained in place with new arrivals replacing those returning home. The living conditions were still harsh. I’ll never forget the bitter coldness of the Korean winter, which we endured while living in tents and bunkers. For the next six months, I was assigned to division headquarters, where I was responsible for flying as an aerial observer in an L-19 aircraft for two to four hours a day over the demilitarized zone. We took binoculars and maps with us, scouring the enemy zone to observe who was moving and what they were doing. We were responsible for monitoring a 60-mile front.”

After Korea, as part of the Air Defense Artillery, Dukkony was assigned to the Air Defense of New York City where he served as the battery commander of a 90 mm gun battery. They were trained to defend against the Soviet bomber threat. This was crucial because they thought there was a threat of nuclear warfare. Looking back, many people think the efforts were unnecessary, but at the time they were serious about defending against the Soviet threat. It was a tense period of time. He was later recognized as being an outstanding lieutenant in the First Army Area.

The next major historical event Dukkony took part in was the Vietnam War. He served two assignments, one at the beginning of the war in 1964 and 1965, and another at the end of the war in 1972 and 1973. He said they were vastly different experiences. In the beginning, the American soldiers had a great deal of optimism and thought they could accomplish all assigned missions and bring the conflict to an end. During his second tour, much of the optimism had since dissipated. At the end of the war, he saw American forces being withdrawn and the abandonment of the South Vietnamese military.

“At the end, most U.S. advisors were withdrawn. The negotiators in Paris decided there was a need to create a four-power military commission made up of Hungarians, Canadians, Poles and Indonesians who could facilitate a peace treaty between North and South Vietnam,” said Dukkony. “The commission failed because the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong decided they could win the war militarily without negotiation. Although many efforts were made, the North Vietnamese did not see any need for negotiations, and the American advisors assigned to support the four-power military commission were withdrawn and returned to the states. I returned home and set about getting my master’s degree.”

U.S. Army officers are encouraged to obtain a master’s degree. Since the Army needed Public Affairs officers, Dukkony went to the University of Alabama to get his master’s in journalism. He first served in Germany as the Chief of Public Affairs for the Army 32nd Air Defense Command, then served as the chief of community relations with the office of the chief of public affairs at the pentagon. For his last assignment, he served as the chief of public affairs for the Military District of Washington. The Military District of Washington is responsible for many of the military ceremonies, supporting the white house and fulfilling the president’s requirements. As a public affairs officer, Dukkony was responsible for organizing communications and handling journalists for various events. He was also the editor of Pentagram, a weekly news publication in support of Army activities in the Military District of Washington.

“Memorial Day is the one time our nation pauses to reflect upon the sacrifices men and women have made since the nation was founded,” said Dukkony. “Many gave their lives in service to the United States, and the least we can do is take one day to remember those who are no longer with us because they paid the ultimate price for the freedom we enjoy today. I knew a number of advisors who lost their lives during Vietnam, and several of my high school friends were killed in Korea. All career officers have lost a number of fellow officers and enlisted people we served with through the years. So come Memorial Day, it is particularly meaningful for us as it has touched our lives through the loss of friends during our careers. This coming Memorial Day, I will reflect on my service and the people who served our country just as I tried to do.”

This Memorial Day, La Posada residents will gather for a presentation of colors and a performance of patriotic songs by the community’s resident chorus.

“It is a rare opportunity to hear the accounts of veterans from the Korean War and Vietnam War, and Steve’s experiences are both varied and fascinating,” said Brad Cadiere, executive director of La Posada. “We are honored to come together and recognize the sacrifices made by the United States military. It is a solemn time of remembrance for many, and as we come together, we will think back on all the outstanding individuals who gave their lives to preserve our freedom.”

Giving back takes many forms, and for one Palm Beach Gardens citizen, it involves writing letters of encouragement to prisoners and reviewing their Bible lessons. Kay Thomas, a resident of La Posada, a premier continuing care retirement community, has devoted time to the Crossroads Prison Ministry cause for the past 15 years.  She began participating in the program with her late husband and has been doing it ever since. Crossroads mentors write to prisoners, review their completed Bible studies and answer their questions. They share stories from their own lives and help their students grow in their faith.

“I have written 452 letters to tier one students and an uncounted number of letters to tier two students since I began volunteering with the program,” said Thomas. “There are three tiers of students, and I work mostly with tier-two students and fill in for tier ones when they need me. In tier one, you get a new student each time. In tier two, you work with the same individual for two to four years. How it works is I receive a completed lesson from the prisoner, I review the Bible study and provide feedback by making corrections in the booklet, then I write a letter of encouragement acknowledging their prayer requests and congratulating them on the completion of the study. It is enlightening when you read who their prayer requests are for. If they mention children or other family members, I bring them up in my letters. For example, if they request prayers for their son, I may say ‘I pray your son will find stability.’ I also let them know that I am praying for them to have peace and guidance as they seek to grow their faith in the presence of the Lord.”

The lesson plans and letters are all mailed to Crossroads, which then mails them to the recipients to maintain anonymity. In the letters, mentors are not allowed to share last names, addresses or even names of local ministers or churches. The mentors may not share pictures, but the prisoners can if they so choose. Mentors are advised to not ask prisoners the reason why they are in prison.

“I’ve had some very interesting prisoners assigned to me over the years – some are very smart, some are super eager, and some I have to prod along because they have long gaps between their lessons,” said Kay. “My goal is to help them study the Bible, find the Lord in their life and grow in their faith. I think it is important to give back, share faith and inspire hope. I cannot get out to do mission work, and I feel like this is a special interest God has given me that I can do from my home. The lessons are enriching for me, and I plan to continue to volunteer for many more years. In addition to the lessons and encouraging letters, we send in cards for birthdays and Christmas, and for some, this is the only mail they receive. I had one prisoner in Texas who was outstanding, and he did beautiful woodwork. After working together for some time, he carved me a beautiful piece – the name of Jesus in the shape of a cross. He shipped it to Crossroads, and they so kindly shipped it to me. It was a meaningful gesture, and I was touched by his gift.”

The mission of Crossroads Prison Ministry is to connect prisoners with mentors in Christ-centered relationships so that lives, prisons and churches are restored through the Gospel. Through the mentorship program, students can take over 100 guided Bible-study lessons free of charge.

“The work is challenging because you want to do your best, be honest and true and not give false information. However, it is also very rewarding because you feel you are making a difference in someone else’s life. The program is such a unique concept, and I am glad a minister thought to start it so many years ago.”

More than 30 years ago, Tom de Vries started Crossroad Bible Institute (now Crossroads Prison Ministries) along with his family members and his circle of friends at church. As he ministered to the men behind prison bars, he began to meet with the same prisoners every week with the goal of building a long-term mentoring relationship with them. However, prisoners are transferred frequently, and he would often come back only to find they were gone. Eventually, de Vries and his brother decided to create Bible studies that could be used for discipleship through the mail. They built a team of volunteers to review prisoners’ completed Bible lessons and write them encouraging letters. Crossroads program can follow prisoners no matter how many times they are transferred.

“We admire Kay’s hard work and dedication to serving prisoners for so many years,” said Brad Cadiere, executive director of La Posada. “This is such a unique way to give back, and how amazing it is to know she is touching lives all over the world. We are fortunate to have so many altruistic residents just like Kay living at La Posada. They are all an inspiration to us.”

La Posada, a premier continuing care retirement community, is home to seniors as young as 65, as well as seniors who have passed the milestone of reaching their 100th birthday. Wanting to celebrate the diverse backgrounds of all of its residents, the senior living community schedules activities that speak to residents’ current interests, as well as experiences that help them reminisce. For Esther Whitely, a 101-year-old resident of La Posada, thinking back to her childhood on a 500-acre farm brings her much joy. To appeal to residents like Whitley who have a rural background, La Posada hosted a petting zoo featuring farm animals on February 19 for residents and their families. This event certainly sparked old memories and created new ones. Whitley enjoyed saying hello to the animals and getting some animal therapy time in. 

“I grew up in a small village in the countryside of South Carolina called Lake View,” said Whitley. “My family produced several crops on our land, such as corn. We lived in a grand home with six fireplaces and enough bedrooms for my nine siblings and me. The boys stayed on one side of the house, and the girls stayed on the other side of the house. When I was born, we were still using oil lamps, fires and candles to light up the house at night. However, when I was three years old I remember electricians came to the countryside to wire it with electricity. When they first turned on the lights, I remember gazing at the grandiose, dazzling chandelier in the foyer of our home, completely mesmerized. The foyer itself was impressive – approximately 15 feet wide and 30 feet long.”

The house still exists, though no one is living in it now, says Whitley. It is located fairly close to the schools that Whitley attended. At the time, her high school was newly built, and it is still operating to this day. Before cars were commonplace and a bus existed to take the kids to school, her brothers pulled her and her siblings by horse, or they walked. The family also attended a church that was the first church on the Great Wagon Road. The town has a lot of history.

“I loved life on our 500-acre estate. My favorite part of growing up there were the Saturday night parties,” said Whitley. “We invited all our friends in the neighborhood and everyone brought food. We would play music and all the different age groups would socialize. When I think back to all the memories we made in that house, I cannot help but smile. It is endearing that La Posada brings in the very animals I interacted with during my childhood so that we can reminisce and think back to the days that brought us so much happiness. ”

In addition to simulating memories, studies show that animal therapy provides physical, social and emotional benefits. Interactions with animals can increase activity levels and improve heart health. Time spent with animals increases socialization and encourages conversation. Those who participate in animal therapy also experience relief from stress, feel a sense of purpose, experience companionship and build better self-esteem.

“The farm-inspired zoo gives residents and their families the chance to interact with cows, emus, pigs, roosters and chickens,” said Brad Cadiere, executive director of La Posada. “Some will even sit and tenderly hold a baby bunny or baby chick. This is such a calming and heartwarming event to witness. Everything melts away, memories flood back and happiness fills their hearts. We value creating opportunities to integrate activities with animals and children into the lives of those living within our community. Together, we are all mastering The Art of Living Well®.”

La Posada, a Kisco Senior Living community, is excited to invite its residents and members of the public to participate in a new educational program. The Wellness Speaker Series features special guests who will discuss important senior-related topics. La Posada is passionate about being a resource to seniors in the surrounding community, as well as to residents who call La Posada home. The first speaker is Scott Greenberg, CEO of ComForcare Senior Services, a private-duty, non-medical home health care agency serving Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River counties. Host of the radio show “Oh My God, I’m Getting Older and So Is My Mom” and author of the book by the same name, Greenberg seeks to empower seniors by sharing his knowledge in an entertaining and educational format. He will deliver a presentation highlighting many topics found in his book on November 28 at 2:00 p.m. at La Posada (11900 Taylor Drive in Palm Beach Gardens). The presentation will be followed by a Q&A session.

“We are thrilled to welcome Scott to our community later this month because we believe attendees will find his presentation both amusing and insightful,” said Brad Cadiere, executive director of La Posada. “It is not easy to discuss some of the topics that pertain to aging, but Greenberg does a delightful job presenting sometimes challenging topics with a comical twist. We are excited to open our doors to the public to share this opportunity with them as well.” 

Some of the subjects are difficult to talk about, so he delivers practical information in a humorous light. Greenberg resides in Jupiter and dedicates his time to helping, educating and preparing seniors – both boomers and their parents – for the possible challenges and difficulties that often accompany aging.  

La Posada requests that members of the public RSVP if they wish to attend. You can RSVP by contacting Michelle Cassels, community sales coordinator for La Posada, at (561) 459-5181 or emailing her at michelle.cassels@kiscosl.com.

Senior and their families are invited to a celebration commemorating the opening of Mallorca at La Posada, a premier Kisco Senior Living community. Retirement is an adventure that awaits at the Mallorca grand opening event (11900 Taylor Drive) on October 25 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event will feature a ribbon cutting and remarks from Brad Cadiere, executive director of La Posada, as well as Monti Galmés, a Manacor-native who is a local expert in business and tourism. He is considered a pioneer of Mallorcan Tourism for bringing quality and excellence in the amenities of his establishments, which has garnered many accolades. He received a Gold Medal in recognition of his extensive professional experience and for his promoting the positive image of Mallorca to the world around.  An RSVP is requested, and can be made by contacting Michelle Cassels, community sales coordinator of La Posada, by calling (561) 459-5181 or emailing her at michelle.cassels@kiscosl.com.

“At this event, attendees will receive a passport and obtain stamps each time they visit a destination within Mallorca and the La Posada campus,” said Cadiere. Throughout the self-guided journey, they will experience live musical entertainment and flamenco dancers, chef-prepared culinary treats, Zumba demonstrations in the wellness center, chair massages from Woodhouse Spa, Black Jack games in the card room, balance machine demonstrations and opportunities to win raffle tickets to be put toward prizes that we will draw for at the end of the event. We are thrilled to give seniors and their families a delight-filled opportunity to explore Mallorca and the rest of the community to get a taste of our approach to The Art of Living Well®.”

Mallorca is a lakeside addition built to enhance the continuum of care and offer a greater variety of lifestyle choices. It was a part of a $35 million expansion and renovation project which recently opened. Mallorca is a new four-story building featuring 54 sophisticated apartment homes with alcove, one- and two-bedroom floor plans, equipped with full kitchens, washers and dryers, and balconies. With the addition of Mallorca, La Posada residents can now choose from a variety of floor plans, some of which offer up to 2,600 square feet and views of the lake. Residents will benefit from housekeeping services, scheduled transportation, wellness and lifestyles programing, and access to the community’s 5-star rated Health Care Center. Amenities in Mallorca include a restaurant, pub, salon and spa, fitness space and various indoor and outdoor areas to socialize.

“The addition of Mallorca gives current and future residents more choices when it comes to exploring life, focusing on wellness, socializing and enjoying new experiences,” said Brad Cadiere, executive director of La Posada. “Now, there is an assortment of new apartments, as well as indoor and outdoor amenities all designed to enhance the active lifestyles of all who live within our 22-acre campus. We are excited to welcome everyone out for our grand opening.”